The U.S. is getting hit with severe stormy weather—here’s what’s stewing in the atmosphere A large portion of the United States, including the Upper Mississippi Valley, the Midwest, and parts of the Atlantic Coast, is facing severe weather conditions. Forecasters warn that scattered to numerous thunderstorms, golf-ball-sized hail, high winds, and a few strong tornadoes could strike the region over the next several days. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued alerts about the potential for dangerous weather, emphasizing the need for preparedness. Meteorologist Bob Oravec of NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center described the current weather pattern as “really active” across the country, with thunderstorms expected to remain prevalent for the next several days. He explained that the severe weather is driven by a cold front moving eastward across the northern part of the nation. As this cold front collides with warm, humid air rising from the Gulf of Mexico, it creates the conditions necessary for thunderstorm development. “Anytime you get warm, humid air along a frontal boundary, you often can see thunderstorm activity,” Oravec said. Bill Bunting, deputy director of NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center, added that the atmosphere is currently “very warm, very moist, very sticky,” a combination that can lead to an “unstable atmosphere.” This instability is expected to intensify thunderstorms, increasing the likelihood of damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. Bunting noted that the strongest storms are likely to develop in the Midwest, extending into parts of Oklahoma, with the most severe weather occurring in the late afternoon and evening.#national_weather_service #storm_prediction_center #national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration #midwest #bob_oravec
